Letter: Is she racist? Hardly

Wednesday

Jun 18, 2014 at 4:00 AM

Editor:

When I did not respond to a message Tom Jankowski left on my home answering machine, I suspected I would hear from him again. In response to his questions in his June 3 letter: Yes, I am aware of the history of the Roma and the persecution they suffered under fascist regimes in Europe. Yes, the Spanish police told my son it was a Roma who robbed him. As Mr. Jankowski has "friends in races," I have friends of Roma ancestry who were not offended by my letter. If I did insult any Roma, I am sincerely sorry.

Racist? My maternal grandfather's family was from West Virginia, and he knew what it was like to work in coal mines, steel mills and factories and feel like some people looked down on him because of where he was from or what he did.

Racist? My stepdad grew up on a Wayne County farm and almost always drove a pickup truck during my childhood.

I do not understand Mr. Jankowski's remarks about Snoop Dog and Al Sharpton, and I am not going to dignify them with a response.

Entitled? I was 32 when I began my first year at The College. Before and during then, I was a clerical worker, a waitress and an exercise instructor. I worked hard and sacrificed a lot to get my education, and I hope everyone who wants to do the same can do so without being yelled at or having things thrown at them.